Christmas Tradition Continues

Hi Everyone, I got the opportunity this past Saturday to go to the forest with some of my Czech friends. Every year they have a Christmas tradition of decorating a few trees for the animals. We hung apples and some other food for the animals. I was a little disappointed as we made our way there because there was no snow on the ground. Snow just seems to give the scene a more Christmas feel to it. But as soon as we left the trees we had decorated it started to snow. I was very excited to see the snow. All my Czech friends know how much I want snow here in Brno. Last year I bought cross country skis but I haven't had the chance to try them. In some places in the Czech Republic there is a little snow but not here in Brno. It has only snowed a couple of times and it melts as soon as it hits the ground :( So I'm not sure we will have a white Christmas.

But I am still thankful for the opportunity to spend time with friends. We are already planning to take a similar walk (or more like a hike) before Easter in the spring.

Take care until next time.

Many Blessings,
Colleen

What do you think?

Thought I would share a few pictures of my grandma...
The top one is her in her early 20s.
The bottom one was taken at her 100th birthday celebration in Feb. 2008.

You can see the resemblance, can't you :)

A heavy heart though "Tis the Season"

Greetings Everyone, I hope that you are enjoying the Advent season. I do enjoy this time of year. But it has been somewhat difficult this year to get into the Christmas spirit. I've had somewhat of a heavy heart since early December. Our family lost a true treasure--my grandmother passed away on Wed. the 3rd of December. She lived a very long and full life dying just two months shy of her 101st birthday. That is not a misprint--there are three digits (101). The most beautiful thing is she was mentally and physically healthy up until her death. I will always remember being able to see her on her 100th birthday on the 1st of Feb earlier this year. One of the first things she reminded me was exactly how long it had been since we had seen each other. What a memory she had ;) She was truly a special person and had such a grand-motherly heart. I will miss how she would take my face in her hands and give me a little kiss and call me, "Sweetie". She had an interesting life being one of nine siblings, married for 67 years to the same man, born 3 children (her 2nd son was my dad who died 12 yrs ago), had 10 grand-children, 19 great grand-children; worked for 40 years as a head teller at main branch of a bank; battled cancer twice in her life at the age of 80 and again at 85; had a strong Catholic faith and somehow managed to age with such an elegance that not many are able to. I have the great privilege of looking the most like my grand-mother compared to all her other grand-children. I always told her that if I can age half as graceful as she has I'll be doing well :) Maybe you can see why I have such a heavy heart. I knew this day would come but it still is a process to grieve the ones we lose know matter at what age they are.

I appreciate all the memories I have of my grandmother and will cherish them as long as I live. During this Christmas season may God give you opportunities to appreciate those relatives and friends God has brought into your life.

Until next time take care.

Many Blessings for the Christmas Season,
Colleen